Adjustable chair.



J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION man NOV-22, 191s.

E-IIII Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETS--SHEET I.

J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 22. 1915.

L1 MQOQ. Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' 11v VENTOR. WITNESSES: Jaw? 0' F W/IL TON A TTORNE YS.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co., wAsmNu'roN, D. c.

JERROLD F. WALTON, OIESTURGIS, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3U, 1916.

Application filed November 22, 1915. Serial No. 6%,776.

My present improvements relate particularly to adjustable chairs of the type shown in the patent to Borgert, No. 1,087 ,526, February 17, 1914, and is in some respects a modification of and improvement upon the structure there shown The main objects of my present invention are: First, to provide in an adjustable chair an improved means for adjustably supporting the back. Second, to provide in an adjustable chair an improved means for ad justably supporting the back in which the parts are simple and economical to produce, easily assembled and strong and durable, and at the same time a structure which is easily operated.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a detail plan view of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. II is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to the broken line 22 of Fig. I, parts being shown in full lines for convenience in illustration. Fig. III is an enlarged detail vertical section corresponding to that of Fig. II, showing the relation of the pawl to the adjustable rack and pawl actuating means. Fig. IV is an enlarged perspective View of the locking pawl. Fig. V is an enlarged detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. I, showing details of the actuating means. Fig. VI is an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line 66 of Fig. II. Fig. VII is a detail section of a slightly modified structure.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the front legs and 2 the rear legs. The legs are connected by the side rails 3, front rails 4 and rear rails 5, thus forming the main frame of the chair.

The back, designated generally by the numeral 6, is pivotally mounted on the frame, as is common in chairs of this type. The seat is designated generally by the nu- 'meral 7. As the details of the back and seat form no part of my present invention they are not further described herein.

The back adjusting and supporting means comprise the supporting bar 8, channelshaped in cross section to provide spaced side members 9. The supporting bar 8 is provided with attaching cars 10 at its front end and is bifurcated or provided with diverging arms 11 at its rear end. The supporting bar is disposed to face downwardly and is secured. at its front end to the inner side of the front rail 4: of the frame and at its rear end to the rear rail 5.

The back is provided with an arm 13 projecting downwardly in front of the rear rail 5 to swing between the arms 11 of the supporting bar. A rack bar 14 is disposed within the supporting bar to face downwardly therein and is pivotally connected at 15 to the lower end of the arm 13 of the back. At its front end the rack bar 14 is provided with a cross pin 14 disposed through the longitudinal slots 16 in the side members of the supporting bar. This pin slidably supports the front end of the rack bar. The slots are of such width as to allow a limited lateral movement of the rack bar, thus preventing binding.

A bearing projection 17 is formed in the top of the supporting bar so that the rack bar bears thereon and friction is reduced.

The pawl 18 is mounted below the rack bar on the pivot 19 extending between the side members of the supporting bar to coact with the rack. The pawl is actuated to and supported in rack engaging position by means of the actuating member 21 having a cam 22 adapted to coact with the pawl. The actuating member is slidably supported in holes in the side members of the supporting bar so that when in its actuated position it looks the pawl in engagement with ated position as shownin Fig. III, the pawl is locked in engagement with the rack se curely supporting the back in its adjusted V the rack. When the actuating member isactuating the bell crank and through it the pawl actuating member 21.

' A spring 30 is connected at one end to the bell crank lever 24 and'at the other to the cross bar 26 and normally'holds the actuating member in its pawl engaging posi tion.

When the actuating member is in its actupositions. I

To release the back it is only necessary to I push downwardly on the button 28, which retracts the actuating member'relasing the pawl and freeing the rack bar; a V

The back is automatically returnedto its upright position by means of the coiled springs 31 which are connected at their forward ends to the cross pin 14: and at their rear ends to cars 32 struck out from the arms 11 of the supporting bar.

In the modified structure shown in Fig.

VII the rack bar 33 is connected to the arm 13 of the back by means of the link 34.- The teeth of this rack are faced forwardly and the pawl 35 is correspondingly modified. In other 'respects'the structure is the same as that described. By thus forming and arranging the parts they are sim:

ple and economical to produce and easily assembledand at the same time'the struc ture is easily operated and very secure.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in detail in the form in which I'have embodied the same. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modifications which I contemplate as I be-' lieve'the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention re- 'lates to embody or adapt the same as may be desired. I desire, however, to beunderstood as claiming my improvements specifically in the form illustrated'as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a chair, the combination with a frame comprising front, side and rear railsand an adjustable back, a channel-shaped ing bar, a pawl pivotally mounted within said supporting bar below said rack bar to coact therewith, a reciprocating actuating member slidably arranged through said supporting bar below' said pawl and provided with a cam for actuating the pawl, means for retracting said actuating member, an actuating spring for said actuating member, and springs connected to said cross pin and to said arms of said supporting bar.

2. In a chair, the combination with a frame comprising front, side and rear rails and an adjustable back, a channel-shaped supporting bar having diverging arms at its rear end and attaching cars at its front end disposed between and secured to the front and rear frame rails facing downwardly, the sides of said supporting bar being longitudinally slotted, a downwardly projecting arm on said back disposed to swing between said supporting bar arms, a rack bar dis posed within said supporting bar to face downwardly and pivotally connected to said arm on said back, a cross pin at the forward end of said rack bar projecting through said slots in said supporting bar, a pawl pivotally mounted within said supporting bar below said rack bar to coact therewith, and a reciprocating actuating member slidably arranged through said supporting bar below said pawl.

- 3. In a chair, the combination with a frame comprising front, side and rear rails and an adjustable back, a channel-shaped supporting bar having diverging arms at its rear end and attaching cars at its front end disposed between and secured to the front and rear frame rails facing downwardly, the sides ofsaid supporting bar being longitudinally slotted, a rack bar disposed within said supporting bar to face downwardly and operatively connected to said back, a cross pin at the forward end of said rack bar projecting through said slots in said supporting bar, a pawl pivotally mounted within said supporting bar below said rack bar to coact therewith, a reciprocating actuating member arranged through said supporting bar below said pawl, and springs connected to said cross pin and to said arms of said supporting bar.

4. In a chair, the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, of a channelshaped supporting bar mounted on said frame to face downwardly, a downwardly projecting arm on said back, a rack bar slidably supported within said supporting bar to face downwardly and pivotally connected to said arm on said back, said supporting bar having a bearing at the top for said rack bar, a pawl pivotally mounted within said supporting bar below said rack bar to coact therewith, and a reciprocating actuating member arranged through said supporting bar below said pawl.

5. In a chair,the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, of a channelshaped supporting bar mounted on said frame to face downwardly, a rack bar slidably supported within said supporting bar to face downwardly and operatively con nected to said back, a pawl pivotally mounted within saidsupporting bar below said rack bar to coact therewith, a recipro eating actuating member arranged through said supporting bar below said pawl and provided with a cam for actuating said pawl, means for retracting said actuating member, and an actuating spring for said actuating member.

6. In a chair, the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, of a supporting bar comprising spaced side members mounted on said frame, a rack bar slidably supported between said supporting bar side members to face downwardly and operatively connected to said back, a pawl pivotally mounted between said supporting bar side members below said rack bar to coact therewith, and a reciprocating actuating member arranged through said supporting bar below said pawl and adapted to support said pawl in its engaging and disengaging positions.

7. In a chair, the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, of a supporting bar comprising spaced side members mounted on said frame, a rack bar slidably supported between said supporting bar side members to face downwardly and operatively connected to said back, a pawl pivotally mounted between said supporting bar side members below said rack bar to coact therewith, and a reciprocating actuating member arranged through said supporting bar below said pawl.

8. In a chair, the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, of a channelshaped supporting bar mounted on said frame to face downwardly, a rack bar slidably supported within said supporting bar to face downwardly and operatively connected to said back, a pawl pivotally mounted within said supporting bar below said rack bar to coact therewith, and means for actuating said pawl adapteo to normally lock it in engagement with the rack 9. In a chair, the combination with a frame and an adjustable back, of a support ing bar comprising spaced side member.- mounted on said frame to face downwardly. a rack bar slidably supported between said supporting bar side members to face downwardly and operatively connected to said back, a pawlpivotally mounted between said supporting bar side members below said rack bar to coact therewith, and means for actuating said pawl adapted to normally lock it in engagement with the rack.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

J ERROLD F. l/VALTON. [L.S.]

Witnesses:

F. T. SMITH, L. F. ARKLIE.

Women of thlla patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of JEatenta, Waahinaton, D. E." 

